Test Seat Needed on Mantis!

Doing a search I did not find any recent dedicated topics on this, and decided to post this.

When at the Point! yesterday with a friend of mine, who happens to be a "guest of exceptional size," we decided to get in line for Mantis right after the thunderstorm, as they were about to restart the ride.

Unfortunately, after waiting 30-40 minutes, when we finally got on the train, the seatbelt wouldn't fasten. Not knowing about being allowed to go up the exit, we wasted time spent in line, when we could have gone to see Snoopy on Ice, or gone to another ride.

A nearby silvertag gave us a pair of front-of-the-line passes for our trouble, which was very nice, considering it was not nessesary, but we suggested to him the test seat.

I think with the facts that A) people don't stand when they should and B) B&M restraints aren't big enough for some people, are good reasons to add a test-seat. I think it would help a great deal, and wouldn't take much effort since they have a spare train.

-Sam
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

I agree. I've seen this many times. On Mean Streak, I saw a father and son boarding. They couldn't get the lap-bar down. His son (he looked really young) had to ride alone. He wasn't really overweight either. Being overweight us unhealthy, but sometimes it passes down through the family. Every roller coaster should have a test seat.

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Courage is not the absence of fear. It is over comming it.

Easier said than done. Some of the older roller coasters like Blue Streak and Corkscrew don't have trains that are manufactured. They would have to take a seat from an existing train to make a test seat.

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Ohio State, here I come!

Of all the rides at Cedar Point, Mantis, with its abnormal seating properties, should have a test seat. I agree with you also.

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Boycott the RIAA

Uh, PTC has been making virtually the same train restraints for decades, and Arrow's parts business is very much still in full swing. You could order either one today if you needed to.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I totally agree I assumed Mantis already had a test seat but I did'nt know there wasn't one.

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adriane ;)

well I 've seen on Disaster transport where a guy couldn't fit with another person, so they let them go and let the guy sit in the first row by himself and he was the only one on the car, at the time it was funny as hell

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The Jokes on You HA HA HA!!!

Its not like Mantis doesn't have some 32 extra seats sitting around not being used.

I'm sure they could put them to use.

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"I can't make a movie or write a song either, but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to think they suck."
-Jeff

Dragster: 3 Force: 8 Twister: 9 Raptor: 9 Magnum: 16

Do they say on the ride queue entrance signs that a rider can test a seat by going up the exit ramp? Or is it in the Funguide that no one reads (as they should!)?

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18 straight years of real thrills and counting...

I think its just on the guide, TekGuy, as my friend suggested to Park Ops at least a sign.

-Sam
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

Real quick what are test cars???

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X2 is the best movie ever!!!
I was in it!!!

Test seats are placed out on the front of a coaster so that riders can see if they can fit before they enter into the queue. It's generally right in front of the entrance and is a single seat.

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Ohio State, here I come!

I recently had the same situation with someone I know. The last time he rode was before the seatbelts were put in, so he assumed he would fit fine. Unfortunately, we didn't get any front of line passes.

Phillip Studans, what ride are you talking about? Because im pretty sure no ride has recently installed new seat belts... and the only ride without a "belt" restraint is Corkscrew. But then again, it doesnt really need em... since the Arrow Trains have those pedal mechanisms for the restraints :)
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TTD: 4 (Rollbacks seen: 24)
MF: 18
WT: 8
"C'mon, get off the rails guys, listen to the guy with the Disaster Transport uniform on!"

Whats the diffrence between Test Seats and Test Cars?
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X2 is the best movie ever!!!
I was in it!!!

First things first, TwisterII, test seats and test cars are the same thing. They are a single seat that "guests of exeptional size" can test to see if they will fit on the ride.

Now before I start, I warn anyone reading, this is going to be a rant and particularly virulent at that.

When Avalanche Sam and I went to CP, specifically the day in question about when I wasn't able to fit on the ride, we picked up comment cards so that when I got back to the dorms, I could fill them out. I put down that while I had a single bad experience on Mantis, being a "guest of exceptional size" (GOES) I had a good day. I also mentioned that I would like them to put a test seat on Mantis or place a sign saying that GOES can go up the exit and test the seats. Today, August 19, I got a response. This is the worst attempt at a response I have ever seen. It starts off saying quote, "We are sorry that your visit was diappointing." The letter then goes on to practically quote the website about GOES In fact, either the letter is wrong or the website is because it said in the letter that a GOES is a person with a 42" waistline and the website said 46". It then lists the rides that I may have trouble riding, as if I don't already know which ones I can or can't fit on. It then says,

---

Overwhelming response from our guests indicates that they would much rather be warned prior to waiting in line for several hours than to be embarrassed and diappointed in front of a platform full of other guests when asked to step out of a train when the seatbelt will not fasten.

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I have to say, no kidding. Most GOES know to try the test seat when they may be too large for a ride. It then goes on to say,

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Asking a guest to "try a test seat and ensure that the seatbelt fastens prior to waiting in line" is not a comfortable thing to say or hear and out employees are advised to do so in a tactful and confidential manner.

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I know this, I have never been asked to try the test seat because I know for some rides, I'm too big. Finally, I have to say this isn't even a form letter. If anyone wants me to type out the letter, I can but not now.

I guess I will stop ranting now. Thanks for listening.
*** This post was edited by Swordmaster 8/20/2003 12:31:42 AM ***

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see what is wrong with the reponse you got. Seems to be a pretty clear explanation of the thinking that goes on about a policy.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

It does seem that, instead of directing commenting on your Mantis suggestion, you got a canned response. Whoever wrote the letter must have saw "guest of exceptional size" and just automatically presented the company line. It's apparent that they have a standard response to this common question, but it appears that they missed your point.

But that's just a guess. I didn't see your original comments or the entire response.

As for the policy, it would be tough for them to have a test seat everywhere and at some point you have to draw the line. I'm sure Mantis would benefit from having a test seat, but what about Mean Streak, Blue Streak, or even Corkscrew?

I think the park advertises their ride policy in a reasonable way. The park can't make everyone read the Fun Guide before they enter - and it's not like the ride op at the entrance can make a judgment and discreetly inform larger guests that they should go up the exit ramp first.

I think it's a reasonable assumption that a larger guest who enters the park should understand that they might not be accommodated on every ride. They can easily be informed of the exit ramp policy with a quick stop into Guest Services or Park Operations.

There's already enough fine print at the entrance to every ride. I don't think more verbiage about this will solve anything. There's a lot of important information in the Fun Guide and Rider Safety Guide. You can't expect the park to present all of that content at each ride. They display too much as it is.

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Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway
*** This post was edited by Gemini 8/20/2003 11:22:26 AM ***

I agree with 'Gemini'. I used to sometimes dread working entrance after I got cussed out pretty badly all because I said that the shoulder harnesses and seatbelts are restrictive and he should go up the exit and try out a test seat. I understand that every person that comes up is a different person, but it just hurts you emotionally when you have to tell someone that they may not be able to ride. It is just as crappy for the ride operators to tell someone they are too big to ride.

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MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

Gemini, you pretty much got it. I feel got a completely canned response that a "guest of exceptional size" would complain about if he complained about the size of the seats. I didn't complain about the size of the seats. I merely commented that Mantis should have a test seat. My original comments were approximately this, abbreviated to save space. I'm replacing my name with my GTTP ID.

Dear CP,

I visited the park on 8/2/03. I had a great time however there was a small incident I had on Mantis. This didn't cause me not to have a good time. I waited for about 30 minutes only to find I was too large for the ride. As a "guest of exceptional size" I didn't realize I could go up the exit to test if there wasn't a test seat. I think you should put a test seat on Mantis or put up a sign saying something like, "Guests of exceptional size may go up the exit to test the seat due to lack of a test seat." Just a suggestion. Thanks for a great time.

Swordmaster

The response I got was basically this. For the truly canned parts I put asterisks around them and where to find them or what they are.

Dear Swordmaster,

Thanks for your comments concerning the safety restraints on the rides. We are sorry that your visit was so disappointing.

Safety is number one at Cedar Point. All passenger restraing systems including lap bars, etc. must be positioned and fastened properly to allow guests to ride.

*See the Guest of Exceptional Size site on CP's website*

For safety reasons ... we don't have seat belt extensions. The lap bar must lock. The seatbelt length is designed by the manufacturer. Our employees have been reminded to advise the guests that the seatbelt must fasten at the test seats.

*List of rides I may be too big to ride. Again see guest of exceptional size site*

We hope you understand the safety of our guests is top priority and must not be sacrificed under any conditions.

Overwhelming response from our guests indicates they would rather be warned prior to waiting in line than be embarrasses and disappointed in front of a platform full of other guests when asked to step from a train when the seat belt won't fasten. Asking a guest to "try a test seat and ensure that the seatbelt fastens prior to waiting in line" is not a comfortable thing to say or hear and our employees are advised to do so in a tactful and confidential manner.

Sincerely,
CP

As you see, this a standard GOES response, not a decent response to my suggestion. I would have prefered something like, "Thank you for the suggestion. We will consider it. Sorry for the embarrassment. CP." I would have been satisfied with that, something even that short. I'm going to stop before this gets way too long.
*** This post was edited by Swordmaster 8/20/2003 7:58:23 PM ***